Eaton to close light factory, lay off 52 workers

This Jan. 25, 2012 file photo shows hydraulic couplings ready for shipping at the Eaton Corp. plant in Berea, Ohio. U.S. companies restocked at a steady pace in February, suggesting businesses are more hopeful about sales. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) less

This Jan. 25, 2012 file photo shows hydraulic couplings ready for shipping at the Eaton Corp. plant in Berea, Ohio. U.S. companies restocked at a steady pace in February, suggesting businesses are more hopeful ... more

Photo: Mark Duncan, STF

Photo: Mark Duncan, STF

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This Jan. 25, 2012 file photo shows hydraulic couplings ready for shipping at the Eaton Corp. plant in Berea, Ohio. U.S. companies restocked at a steady pace in February, suggesting businesses are more hopeful about sales. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) less

This Jan. 25, 2012 file photo shows hydraulic couplings ready for shipping at the Eaton Corp. plant in Berea, Ohio. U.S. companies restocked at a steady pace in February, suggesting businesses are more hopeful ... more

Photo: Mark Duncan, STF

Eaton to close light factory, lay off 52 workers

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Eaton Corp. will shut down its light factory in Houston, laying off 52 workers.

The Irish power management company notified employees earlier this month that it will permanently close its Eaton Crouse-Hinds facility at 3530 South Sam Houston Parkway East, because of "competitive market conditions" in the harsh and hazardous lighting business.

"(The decision) is in no way a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the employees," a spokeswoman said in an email. "We regret the impact that this decision will have on our employees and their families, and will ensure these actions are carried out with care and concern for all employees involved."

Eaton's Sam Houston Parkway facility manufactures Pauluhn-branded LED lights for offshore oil rigs, oil refineries and petrochemical plants as well as fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lights. Production of explosion-resistant lights will move from Houston to Eaton facilities in Roanoke, Va., Changzhou, China, and Ixztapalapa, Mexico. The move is expected to begin in December and be completed by the end of March.

The closure affects all of the manufacturing and support staff employees at the Houston plant, except for those who may be offered and accept transfers to other Eaton locations, according to the company's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter. Eaton has four other facilities in the Houston area, and employs nearly 1,200 employees across Texas. The company plans to provide severance, separation and outplacement assistance to its laid-off employees.

Some local entities, such as Telecheck in Sugar Land and the East Houston Regional Medical Center, have closed because of damage from Hurricane Harvey.

Eaton, however, said closure of its Houston plant was not due to the storm and its devastating flooding.

Eaton's Crouse-Hinds division was formerly part of Houston-based Cooper Industries, which was acquired by Eaton in a $13 billion deal in 2012.